West Virginia Attorney General Indicted

CHARLESTON, W.VA. — Attorney General Charlie Brown was indicted Monday on misdemeanor charges of soliciting campaign contributions from his staff.

The charges arose from a $100-a-ticket fund-raiser Brown held Nov. 20 to help retire his $40,000 campaign debt. His staff contributed $2,975.

The indictments charge Brown with asking for donations from eight of his deputy and assistant attorneys.

In a statement, Brown said, ''From the beginning, I have always been completely open and straightforward about this matter. I did nothing unlawful, and I am confident I will be found innocent.''

Brown conceded he made a mistake in judgment by asking his staff to buy tickets to the fund-raiser but denied he broke any law because the contributions were to retire his 1984 campaign debt, not for a new campaign.

West Virginia's election law makes it a misdemeanor to solicit public employees for political contributions. The crime is punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and up to one year in jail. If convicted, Brown could be removed from office either by the governor or by impeachment.